Sunday, January 5, 2014

Snowpocalypse 2014

It is official!  No school tomorrow, it's...


I saw this on Ms. Fultz's Facebook Page and I had to use it!  I love it..."because Christmas break wasn't long enough."  And yes, I miss my kiddos, but I have been loving all the time with Grace at home, so I am happy to have another day with her.  We just got hit with tons of snow in Northern Illinois and temperatures are supposed to be 15 below and up to 50 below for windchill tomorrow, so we are technically having a cold day tomorrow!

I just posted a new freebie in my Teachers Pay Teacher store (Gracieface Learning).  I originally saw this one made by Aimee Vanmiddlesworth (click here to get her English version for FREE!) and I really wanted to do this with my students our first day back, but alas it was only in English.  


So I had to make my own Spanish version (click here to get it!)....I tried to make it work for all of my students' levels.  I think they are all going to start off with the picture page and for those who can finish that, they are going to use their picture page as a brainstorming page to help them write a paragraph about their winter break.




I hope you can use this whenever you go back - either tomorrow or Tuesday...or Wednesday?!!?  :)



Wednesday, January 1, 2014

Fun and Family in 2014!

Day one of 2014 and I am back!  One of my goals of this year is to be more consistent with my blogging and the people at Blog Hoppin' have made it easy by doing this fun little linky about New Year's Resolutions.  So this week will be a lot about myself and goals, but I hope to offer some cool things (read freebies and awesome products) along the way.


 So, today's topic is Fun and Family and I tried to narrow it down to three goals in this area:


I love making lessons and creating stuff for my students, but that means me with my laptop on the couch, making stuff....with daughter playing in her playroom or handing me food that she made while I type.  I want to make time for my Gracie girl. She is growing up so fast and I want to treasure all the time that I have with her.

We went outside and played in the snow for two hours today.  No laptop, no cell phone -- just played.  And she CRIED when we had to come in.  I want that awesome quality time with her because she is just that awesome.  So even though I want to continue being the best teacher for my students, I need to carve time out for Grace and if that means I don't touch my laptop until she goes to sleep...fine.  I am literally lying next to her while she sleeps as I type this:  I will make the most out of nap times!

If you follow me on Pinterest, you will know I am constantly pinning activities for her, I want to start trying some of them out!


Electronics come into play here, too.  Hubby and I need to put down our devices and really focus on the three of us (and the two of us!).  Every summer I make a bucket list of things I want to do as a family and believe it or not, it keeps us busy.  That doesn't say much for the other seasons.  I want to go and do more...and sometimes money is an issue, but with our new focus on spending (do I dare say, budget?), we should be able to do some cool family stuff together.

We have a membership to the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago, I want to visit there more often and just do little getaways to Galena and Lake Geneva.  I also, I want to go on some good family vacations this summer.  Grace is just a sponge and I joke when we are out about giving her background knowledge (I am such a teacher), but it is true.


I debated putting this one on the list, but I'm doing it... These are pictures from 3 years ago...is it creepy that I am putting them on here?  I am so NOT pregnant right now -- that baby bump is courtesy of Gracie circa 2011, but I think 2014 is the year to get preggers again (even if the baby is born in 2015).  Grace needs a sibling and I think it is time for it.  Last year it was our plan, but I wanted to make sure my mama was doing good and healthy and it seems that all is well...  Now, this is the year for baby #2.

So..what are your Fun and Family goals for 2014?  Leave them in the comments or if you have a blog, link up!  Come back by tomorrow!